Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0002’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pentas  plant named ‘PEZZ0002’ particularly distinguished by the large sized inflorescences and flowers, with blush white colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, upright, sturdy and vigorous growth habit, thick stems and branches on a well-branched plant, tolerates hot summer conditions with continuous summer flowering.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pentas lanceolata.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEZZ0002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pentas, botanically known as Pentas lanceolata, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEZZ0002’.

‘PEZZ0002’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘PEZZ0002’ has large sized inflorescences and flowers, with blush white colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, upright, sturdy and vigorous growth habit, thick stems and branches on a well-branched plant, tolerates hot summer conditions with continuous summer flowering.

‘PEZZ0002’ originates from a cross hybridization of two (2) sibling seedlings in a breeding program made in October 2007, in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was identified as ‘PEZZ0001’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/998,369) with light-purple flower color.

The male parent of ‘PEZZ0002’ as a sibling to the female parent, was an unpatented plant identified as ‘209-3’ with lavender flowers. The resultant seed was sown in May 2008 in Gilroy, Calif.

‘PEZZ0002’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in September 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEZZ0002’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in September 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in September 2008 in Gilroy, Calif., and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEZZ0002’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘PEZZ0002’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Nov. 2, 2013, No. 12-7779. ‘PEZZ0002’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pentas as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘PEZZ0002’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawing shows in FIG. 1. a flowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2. a close-up of an inflorescence.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in late August under natural light. These plants were approximately 30 weeks old and were grown in a 1 gallon pot grown first in a greenhouse trial and then outside for about the last 10-12 weeks. The plants shown in the photographs were about 16-18 weeks old growing in a 4.5 inch pot in a greenhouse trial. The photographs were taken in April 2012.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEZZ0002’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Bismarck Pink’ ‘PEZZ0002’ (U.S. Plant Pat, No. 15,780) Habit: Much more vigorous Less vigorous Leaf size: Larger Smaller Flower size/color: Larger/blush white Smaller/Pink

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Upright, sturdy and vigorous growth             habit; good heat tolerance with continuous flowering through             summer; thick stems and branches with a well-branched plant             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 36.0 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—About 41-43.0 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 50.0 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—12-14 days at about 22             degrees C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—4-5 weeks at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 147A.         -   Immature leaf, lower surface.—Closest to RHS 147B.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 137A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 146B.         -   Length (cm).—7.3-8.4 cm.         -   Width (cm).—3.9-4.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Texture upper side.—Hirsute.         -   Texture lower side.—Hirsute and more heavily on the veins.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144B.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144B.         -   Pattern of veining.—Pinnate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 144B.         -   Petiole length (cm).—1.5-2. cm.         -   Diameter of petiole (cm).—0.2-0.25 cm.         -   Texture of petiole.—Hirsute. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of branches.—6-8.         -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of stem (cm).—18-20. cm.         -   Diameter (cm).—0.7-1.0 cm.         -   Length of internodes (cm).—1.-2.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute, pilose.         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Present. -   Lateral branch:     -   -   Length (cm).—18.         -   Diameter (cm).—0.5.         -   Internode length (cm).—5.8.         -   Aspect.—Hirsute.         -   Texture.—Strong.         -   Color.—RHS 146A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of peduncle (cm).—1.5-2.0 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter (cm).—0.15 cm.         -   Peduncle texture.—Pilose, hirsute.         -   Peduncle strength.—Strong. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 144B.         -   Length of pedicel (cm).—0.2 cm.         -   Diameter of pedicel (cm).—0.075 cm.         -   Pedicel texture.—Pilose, hirsute.         -   Pedicel strength.—Strong. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 155A.         -   Length (cm).—2.0 cm.         -   Width (cm).—0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Texture.—Smooth with a bit of hair. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal corymb; but more umbel looking.         -   Natural flowering.—Late spring and summer, flowers             continuously.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—15 with open flowers and             7 immature with only buds.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—8-10.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—4.5-5.0 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Single, tubular-shaped flowers consisting of a single             whorl of 5 pointed petals fused at the base; aspect slightly             cupped; very free flowering.         -   Lastingness of individual flowers.—About 3-4 weeks depending             on temperature.         -   Immature.—Color upper petals, upper surface: Closest to RHS             155C but slightly lighter. Color upper petals, lower             surface: Closest to RHS 155C but slightly lighter.         -   Mature.—Diameter of floret (cm): 1.6-1.9 cm. Depth of floret             (cm): 2.7-3.2 cm. Color upper petals, upper surface: Closest             to RHS 155C but slightly lighter. Color upper petals, lower             surface: Closest to RHS 155C but slightly lighter. Length             petals (cm): 1.0-1.1 cm. Width of petals (cm): 0.5-0.55 cm.             Petal shape: Ovate. Apex shape: Almost cuspidate. Margin:             Entire. Base: Fused. Petal texture, upper surface:             Papillose. Lower surface: Papillose, with some hairs down             the midvein. Corolla tube color, inside: Closest to RHS             N155D, overlaid with slight RHS 181D. Corolla tube color,             outside: Closest to RHS N155B, overlaid with a light hue of             RHS 181C. Corolla tube length (cm): About 2.0 cm. Corolla             tube diameter (cm): 0.3-0.4 cm. Corolla tube texture,             inside: Very hirsute at throat with hairs running the length             of the tube. Outside: Hiruste. Corolla throat diameter (cm):             0.5 cm. Corolla throat color RHS 38D. Corolla throat length:             1.8 cm. Corolla throat texture: Weak smooth with a bit of             hair. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Color of sepals.—Closest to RHS 137A but darker.         -   Length of sepals.—0.3-0.6 cm.         -   Width of sepals.—0.1-0.2 cm.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margins.—Entire, where not fused.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Hirsute, pilose. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: 1. Length: 2.6-2.7 cm. Style color: RHS             155C. Style length: 1.6-1.9 cm. Stigma color: RHS 155C but             slightly more white. Sigma type: Bi-parted; pubescent. Ovary             color: Somewhat lighter than RHS N144A. Ovary length:             0.2 cm. Ovary diameter: 0.15 cm.         -   Androecium.—Number of stamens: 5, with filaments fused to             the corolla wall. Anther color: RHS 155B. Length of anthers             (cm): 0.25 cm. Pollen amount: None found. Color of pollen:             N/A.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed to date.             Disease/pest resistance.—Pythium root rot, Rhizoctonia root             and stem rot, Fusarium wilt, Botryis. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0002’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 